2017
Recordkeeping Survey

The State of Recordkeeping: Providers face constant pressure to evolve—and survive.

Introduction

As a complement to our Defined Contribution Survey—which measures how satisfied DC clients are with their providers—our annual Recordkeeping Survey gives employers the chance to see exactly which products and services each provider offers, as well as listing information on total assets and overall client demographics. This survey, as opposed to the DC survey, is comprised of data collected from the providers themselves.

Principal Financial Group

2016 Asset Rank: 11 www.principal.com
PROFILE20162015%Change
Assets ($MM)$189,648$174,4208.7%
Plans52,60751,2622.6%
Participants4,939,5044,693,4775.2%
Plan SizeParticipantsPlans
<$5MM1,372,75647,201
$5MM – $25MM1,274,223 4,364
>$25MM – $100MM983,613 816
>$100MM – $500MM806,362 192
>$500MM502,550 34
Plans by Channel
Direct sold 1%
Adviser sold 99%
Other 0%
Plans by Type
401(k)59%
403(b)3%
457 2%
Profit Sharing1%
All Other35%
Service Offerings
New client restrictionsNone
Multiple service modelsYes
Offers corporate trustee servicesYes
Internal ERISA counsel6
Plan Administration
360-degree payroll integrationAvailable to all clients
Supports alternate IDsYes
Supports fee equalizationAvailable to some clients
Will act as §3(16) fiduciaryYes (indirect offering)
Participant Services
Call center hoursWeekdays: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. ET
Online chat supportNo
Mobile appYes
Outside account aggregationYes
Advice Offerings
Managed account optionsMorningstar/Ibbotson
Offers financial wellness program(s)Yes
Retirement Income
Income estimate on statementsYes
In-plan retirement income productsYes
Out-of-plan annuity bidding serviceYes
Recordkeeping PlatformProprietary
2017 Defined Contribution Recordkeeper Capabilities

Provider Listing Key:

- New-client requirements vary and may include plan-size minimums or restrictions on the types of plans that will be accepted. Please contact providers for details.

- ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) counsel equals the number of full-time equivalent legal staff available to opine on ERISA issues when needed. Additional fees may apply.

- Fee equalization reflects whether the recordkeeper may credit participants for revenue sharing paid by their investments that exceeds their share of the recordkeeping fee.

- Providers supporting 360-degree payroll integration accommodate direct, two-way communication of data with payroll vendors to simplify some aspects of plan administration. It may be available to "all clients" or "some clients," if certain conditions are met.

- In-plan retirement income products include guaranteed investment options specifically designed to produce a predictable level of income throughout retirement with no need to reinvest or withdraw assets from the plan.

- NR = not reported in time for publication; NA = not applicable to the provider.